Snap fit interlocking checker



Dec. 12, 1950 w, s PETERSON 2,534,055

SNAP FIT INTERLOCKING CHECKER Filed Dec. 5, 1946 Jlf /2 JT/y i /I l /3 /2 I MMVI/0% W/z. A @D SPETE/aso/V @www Patented Dec. 12, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT orricc- SNAP FIT INTERLOCKING CHECKER Willard S. Peterson, Astoria, N. Y.

Application December 3, 1946, Serial No. 713,674

' 4 claims. (ol. 27s- 137) This invention relates to improvements in game pieces, and more particularly to an improved checker for use in the game of checkers or draughts, or any other games requiring similar movable game pieces.

In the game or checkers, each player is provided with a required number of pieces which are moved from square to square on a checker board. At the beginning of the game each piece may be moved only in one general direction until it reaches the furthermost squares, which are known as the king row. When the piece reaches the king row, it becomes a king, and its playing or game value is enhanced so that it may thereafter during the game be moved in any direction. In order to distinguish the king from other pieces, the king is formed by placing one checker upon another, and then both checkers are thereafter moved together as a single game piece or king.

It is necessary at all times during the game to know in which square a given checker piece is located. However, if the game or checker board is inadvertently jarred, tilted, or otherwise disturbed, the two checker pieces which form the king become displaced, and may fall in different playing squares. In this event, it is difficult to determine in which playing square the king was located prior to the mishap. Difliculty isk also frequently encountered when the player attempts to jump a king over another game piece, because during the jumping operation the top checker often falls from the lower checker onto Vthe playing area, thereby disrupting the playing relation of other checkers.

After the games are completed, the checkers are usually compactly stored in a container or checker box with a number of the checkers disposed in superposed relationi Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved locking :checker piece Which is constructed and arranged so that the inherent resiliency or ready deformability of the material forming the checker piece is utilized to lock two or more checkers together.

Another object of this invention is to provide improved checker pieces in which the ready deformability of the material forming the base is utilized to secure two or Imore pieces together, the locking instrumentalities being constructed and arranged so that the locking action is effected by a very slight manual effort.

A specic object of the invention is to provide improved checker pieces which are formed oi` material having a degree of resiliency and each piece having spaced locking members which are Constrained to locking position by the resiliency of the material forming the checkers,

A more specific object oi this invention is to provide improved checker pieces, each formed of resilient material and having a reduced projecting portion and a recessed portion, one of the portions being provided with a locking groove and the other portion provided with spaced locking projections which are permitted by the resilency of the material forming the checker to yield sufriciently to engage and diseng-age the locking groove of a second piece to lock the two pieces together or to permit their convenient separation.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a checker mechanism of generally improved construction and arrangement, whereby the device will be simple, durable, and inexpensive, as well as convenient, practical, serviceable, and eiiicient in its use.

With the foregoing and other objects in View which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts, and in the details of construction hereafter described and claimed, it being understood that various changes in form, proportion and minor details of construction may be made within the s-cope of the claims without departing from the spirit or sacricing any advantages of the invention.

For a complete disclosure of the invention,` a detailed description thereof will now be given in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification, wherein?" Figure l is a side elevation of the improved checker;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the checker;4

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the checker;

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view depicting two checkers in interlocked relation;

Figure 5 is a side elevation of a modified form of checker; and

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view of a modied form of the invention, depicting two checkers in interlocking relation.

Referring to the drawings, in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts, li! indicates the cylindrical body of the improved checker, and this body has a lower recess portion II andan upper projecting portion I2. The projecting portion I2 is reduced in diameter and its outer surface is preferably frustoconical in configuration. The inclined conical surface I3 of the projecting portion I2 serves as a guide surface, as will be hereinafter eX- plained. A circular locking groove I5 is formed at the intersection of a flat top surface I6 of the checker body I D and lower portion of the frusto-conical guide surface I3, for a purpose to be hereinafter explained.

The lower portion lI of the checker body I is provided with a recess I'I adapted to snugly receive the projecting portion I 2 of a similar checker, as will be more fully explained hereinafter. A number of locking projections or lugs I8 extend into the recess I'I from vthe lower annular wall 20 which surrounds the recess I'I.

When it is desired to secure two checkers together to form a king one checker is positioned over another, with the recess I1 .of the tol) Checker in alignment with the projecting portion I2 of the lower checker. When the upper checker is placed on the lower checker, the locking projections I3 engage the upper portion of the frusto-conical guide surface I3, and then a slight downward pressure forces the projections i8 Adownwardly alongl this guide surface until the projections snap into the locking groove l5, thereby securely locking the two checkers together in position to form a king piece. As the looking projections are .forced downwardly along the frusto-.conieal guide surface i3, the resillent annular .wail 2n, surrounding the recess Il', permits the locking lues to yield outwardly suffieiently to pass .over the enlarged lower terminal of the guide surface I 3.. .As the locking lugs 18 move outwardly, the segment of the annular wall 20 dened between two adjacent looking lugs, is distorted from its circular oomeuration inwardly towards a cord passing through the engaging portions of the adjacent lool/sing lugs, This yielding or stretching movement of the annular wall 20 of the recessed portion of the checker permits the lugs to move suiciently to snap to and from engagement with the locking groove l5.

When it is desired to separate the checkers, the upper checker is moved axially away from the lower checker, thus causing the locking projections I8 to snap from engagement with the locking groove I5.

In the form of :the invention depicted in `ldis- Vure 5, the annular wall 20a surrounding the recess is provided with spaced slits, preferably formed at cach side of a locking projection I8a By this arrangement, the portion of the wall 20a which Jcarries a locking projection'la, yields outward- 1y independently of the remainder of the wall when the checkers are moved to and from locking engagement with each other.

Figure `6 depicts a form of the invention having a locking groove Ib 4formed in Vthe inner V,surface of the annular wall o surrounding the `to permit the lugs to ride up the inclined guide surface |317 to snapping engagement with the locking groove IFib, If desired, the annular wall 2Gb may be rprovided with slots or slits similar to those disclosed. in Figure 5 to permit portions of the wail to yield independently of lother portions.

,After the games have been completed, the

checkers are usually stored in a suitable oo n- .tainer or checker box where a number .of ,checkers are disposed in superposed relation. ,If the depth of the container is suiicient .to accommodate three or more checkers in superposed relation, then this number of checkers are locked together in axial alignment and placed in the container in this condition, thus facilitating the packing operation in storing the checkers for future use,

I claim:

1. In a checker member, a relatively thin and fiat body formed of readily deformable material and having its lower face provided with a recess, a projection integral with said body rising from the upper face thereof, said projection corresponding substantially with the size and shape of said recess, the side wall of said projection having a locking groove therein, and a locking rib integral with said body and extending into the .Sido Wallof said recess.

2, A checker member comprising a relatively thin flat body formed of readily deformable material and having its lower face provided with a recess, a locking rib in the side wall of said recess projecting into the latter, a projection rising from the upper face of said body o f substantially the same shape `and size of said recess, and said projection having a locking `groove in its side Wall corresponding to the size and shape of said locking rib.

3, A checker membey comprising a relatively thin dat body formed of readily deformable matcriall and having a circular` recess opening inwardly .from its lower face, .a locking rib in the Side Wall o f said recess ,and projecting into rthe latter, an annular projection rising .from the upper .face of said body corresponding in shape and size with said recess, and the .side wall of said projection having a locking groove correspond- .ing in size, shape and location with the locking rib .of said recess wall.

e. A checker member comprising a relatively thin flat body formed of readily deformable material and having a circular recess opening inwardly from its lower face, the sido Walls of said recess inclining inwardly in .the direction of the top of said body, a locking rib on Said side wall proiect'ng into said recess, an annular projection rising vfrom the upper .face or said body corresponding in shape and size with said bottom recess, the side walls of said projection corresponding to the .singularity .o f the side walls of Asaid recess, and said projection side wall having a locking groove therein corresponding to the sine, shape and location of the .rib oi said recess wall.

WLLLARD S., PETERSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 179,483 Lewis July 4, 1876 1,170,109 Y Rogers Feb. 1, `1916 1,609,078 Floyd Nov. 3 0, 1926 11,759,560 Jones May 20, 1930 1,356,814 Jones 1-, May 3, 1932 2,020,494 Baron Nov. 12, 1935 2,403,511 Enkur July 9, 1946 2,440,170 Duefrene Apr. 20, 1948 FOREXGN PATENTS vNumber Country Date 677,949 German-y July 5, 1939 

